343: Diverse flavors

Shang Wan Ning raised a hand to stop Niu Mengmeng, her sleeve sweeping across the armrest as she moved her elbow, leaving a faint shadow.

"No rush."

With a tap in the void, the translucent System Space panel unfolded in response, the text hovering steadily amidst the yin wind. "The offerings from various countries for the third quarter have just arrived. See for yourself."

Role: Shang Wan Ning

Identity: Netherworld Empress (Supreme Ruler of the Underworld)

Cultivation: Eighth Rank Peak

Buildings: eight views of yin mountain, Yin Street, Underworld Building, Empress's Palace, Black Horn Iron Prison, Reincarnation Hall...

incense value: 1853.946 Billion

Niu Mengmeng leaned in, her red eyes wide, her calloused fingers rubbing against her black armor, her tone full of surprise. "How is there so much? It's thirty percent higher than the last quarter."

Shang Wan Ning retracted her hand, the panel dissolving into points of light. Her lips curled slightly, revealing a faint, subtle smile that hinted at an imperceptible sense of pride.

"Heh, beauty is justice."

She glanced at Niu Mengmeng. "The Elf Race's Lia has opened up the global entertainment scene, and the sincerity of the human race has increased recently. This has led to a significant improvement in the quality of incense offerings, and the conversion efficiency is now twice as fast as before."

Meng Jiang added from the side, her tone clear and logical: "The situation on Mercury following the Spiritual Energy Revival has indeed stabilized."

"The Transcendent teams formed by various countries are more than enough to deal with ordinary ghosts and monsters. Only those they truly cannot solve are reported to the Underworld's city-based branch ghost messengers."

When she looked at Shang Wan Ning, her eyes held a hint of helplessness. "The ghost messengers have become idle; most of the time they only need to reap souls or occasionally maintain order, leaving them with an excess of ghost power."

"Recently, many have started dating, and some have even begun holding ghost weddings (actual ghost weddings)."

"And Her Majesty's underworld app account—the comments section is about to explode." As Meng Jiang spoke, she brought up a light screen, where a dense stream of comments was scrolling by.

"Begging Her Majesty the Empress to launch a cross-dimensional expedition to save the Beast-Eared Girl..."

"Underworld girl group debut in the center position, we'll provide enough incense points."

"Elf Race marriage proposal application +10086..."

Shang Wan Ning raised a hand to press her temple, the pearl curtain of her white jade crown swaying slightly, obscuring the teasing look in her eyes. "That's why I think this generation of humans has quite diverse tastes."

Niu Mengmeng listened from the side, suddenly clapping her hands, her red eyes flashing with excitement. "Your Majesty, everyone has a love for beauty. Take my girlfriend, for example; she loves my king kong barbie figure and this loli face, saying it has a very distinct contrast."

"Last month, she bought me ten boxes of daily-disposable contact lenses and finger cots, telling me to take turns wearing them~"

The high platform fell into sudden silence.

Meng Jiang lowered her gaze to the cracks in the floor tiles, her shoulders trembling imperceptibly. Ma Sanqiang gripped the command flag pole, his fists clenched until they turned white.

Shang Wan Ning turned her head slowly, her phoenix eyes narrowing into two cold blades: "Save your private pillow talk for the bedroom, Mengmeng."

The hair on the back of Niu Mengmeng's neck stood on end.

Immediately, the Empress turned and walked toward the edge of the high platform, looking out at the empty martial arts field below.

The yin wind rolled up the hem of her phoenix robe, the pattern of the dark gold nether phoenix seeming to come alive in the wind. "Actually, having incense offerings alone is not enough; we must turn this incense into solid combat power."

She pointed to the center of the ghost domain. "Pass on my order: starting today, all registered ghost messengers of the Underworld can exchange their merits for incense offerings each month to advance their cultivation. Below the Sixth Rank, resources will be prioritized for young ghost messengers with potential."

"All Yin Gods at the Sixth Rank Peak are to enter seclusion. The goal is to restore their former strength and proceed to reach the Seventh Rank." Shang Wan Ning's fingertip grazed her Storage Ring, and two clusters of hazy divine light floated in mid-air.

One was shaped like a coiled dragon, and the other resembled a blood phoenix; the overflowing spiritual pressure caused the yin wind on the high platform to stop abruptly.

"Sponsored by Olexia, you two take these." She tossed the items toward Niu Mengmeng and Ma Sanqiang.

Both caught them instinctively; the divine herbs were scalding to the touch, and a boundless vitality surged through their arms and into their limbs and bones.

"In two years, I want to see Seventh Rank Ox-Head and Horse-Face."

Niu Mengmeng's red eyes lit up, and she gripped the dragon-shaped divine herb tightly: "Rest assured, Your Majesty, this Subordinate will definitely treat it like a meal."

Ma Sanqiang dropped to one knee, sparks flying as his knee guard hit the ground. "This Subordinate will not fail your expectations, Your Majesty."

Shang Wan Ning waved her hand.

The two did not delay any longer, turning and leaping off the high platform. Their armor kicked up a strong wind, and in a few bounds, they vanished at the end of the martial arts field.

[Training troops, entering seclusion—time waits for no Yin God!]

"It's your turn, Sister Meng." Shang Wan Ning looked at Meng Jiang again, the sharpness in her eyes receding.

"The Eighth Rank hurdle has kept you stuck for long enough."

Meng Jiang's deep purple palace attire was pressed against her waistline by the yin wind, outlining her breathtaking curves.

"I can break through at any time, but..."

She turned her head, her gaze lingering on Shang Wan Ning's face. "Is your supply of incense offerings sufficient, A Ning? The threshold for the Eighth Rank has a massive appetite."

Shang Wan Ning chuckled and dove her consciousness directly into the System Space. "Xiao Si, pull up the inventory!!! Something to assist in reaching the Eighth Rank—I want the best one."

"You got it! great host."

The light screen unfolded before them with a "swish," displaying scrolling deep blue characters:

Option 1: Star Core Spirit Gathering Array (Improved Version)

Description: Draws upon planar star power to condense into star core, slowly infusing the divine sea. It is not rash, can nourish meridians, and is suitable for those with a solid foundation to steadily expand their spirit apertures.

Suitability: Seventh Rank Peak

Success Rate Increase: Approx. 20% - 25%

Side Effects: The star power is slightly cold and requires continuous focused guidance; the slightest distraction can cause stagnation in the meridians, and the process is relatively slow.

Duration: Single use, lasts five days.

Price: 98 billion incense points

Option 2: xuan yuan soul nurturing lotus

Description: An exotic lotus platform nourished by the Xuan Yuan Spirit Spring for ten thousand years, filled with gentle Xuan Yuan spiritual energy. It can nourish the soul, repair hidden foundation injuries, and enhance the resilience of the physical body and soul when breaking through realms.

Suitability: Seventh Rank Peak, best for those with old injuries. Can stabilize the foundation and reduce the risk of backlash during breakthrough.

Success Rate Increase: Approx. 30% - 35%

Side Effects: The spiritual energy is too mild and requires active guidance into the body; those with high inertia may easily miss the best breakthrough timing.

Duration: The lotus platform's spiritual energy can last until the breakthrough is complete.

Price: 150 billion incense points

Option 3: Purple Mansion Spirit Essence Bead

Description: Polished from Purple Mansion spirit crystals mined from the depths of the Nine Netherworlds, containing a wisp of innate spirit-nurturing energy. It can induce resonance with the cultivator's own spiritual energy, solidify the Purple Mansion foundation, and help them more easily comprehend Eighth Rank laws during breakthrough.

Suitability: Seventh Rank Peak experts who have a deep comprehension of laws and are just one step away from breakthrough.

Success Rate Increase: Approx. 38% - 42% (fluctuates based on the user's affinity with laws)

Side Effects: The spirit-nurturing energy needs to merge with one's own spiritual energy; if the foundation is flawed, it can easily trigger spiritual energy disorder, requiring a protector to regulate from the side.

Price: 210 billion incense points

Meng Jiang scanned the light screen, her gaze pausing for a moment on the description of the 'xuan yuan soul nurturing lotus.' The great war of gods a thousand years ago had indeed left her with hidden injuries.

This lotus platform seemed tailor-made for her.